So, do you use it?
Whilst my 7D had an Auto ISO feature, it was pretty basic and I never really bothered using it, preferring to control the ISO myself.
Now, with the 5D3, the feature is far more flexible and so I've been giving it a bash and I've found it quite useful.
What I didn't realise at first is how the automatic shutter speed setting works. Whilst you can set the minimum shutter speed to a specific value, if you leave it on automatic, it actually obeys the 1/focal-length rule of thumb, keeping the speed above this value, even when using a zoom and changing focal lengths.
This means that, when using aperture priority, I can dial in the aperture I want and leave the camera to choose the shutter speed and ISO, using the slowest shutter speed it deems appropriate for the focal length and then setting the ISO accordingly. I can then dial in whatever exposure compensation I need.
Another option which didn't occur to me at first is to use it when in manual mode, setting both the aperture and shutter speed and then allowing the camera to choose the ISO. This provides another type of automatic metering mode, although obviously within limits as if your shutter speed is too high and/or aperture too narrow then it won't be able to lower the ISO enough to expose properly.
The one downside to this mode is that no exposure compensation is possible. As I routinely find myself using between 2/3rds and a full stop of compensation, this means the manual mode doesn't generally expose how I want with Auto ISO enabled so I've left that alone for now.
Just thought I'd share my observations and wondered if anyone else is using it or has experimented with it?
Whilst my 7D had an Auto ISO feature, it was pretty basic and I never really bothered using it, preferring to control the ISO myself.
Now, with the 5D3, the feature is far more flexible and so I've been giving it a bash and I've found it quite useful.
What I didn't realise at first is how the automatic shutter speed setting works. Whilst you can set the minimum shutter speed to a specific value, if you leave it on automatic, it actually obeys the 1/focal-length rule of thumb, keeping the speed above this value, even when using a zoom and changing focal lengths.
This means that, when using aperture priority, I can dial in the aperture I want and leave the camera to choose the shutter speed and ISO, using the slowest shutter speed it deems appropriate for the focal length and then setting the ISO accordingly. I can then dial in whatever exposure compensation I need.
Another option which didn't occur to me at first is to use it when in manual mode, setting both the aperture and shutter speed and then allowing the camera to choose the ISO. This provides another type of automatic metering mode, although obviously within limits as if your shutter speed is too high and/or aperture too narrow then it won't be able to lower the ISO enough to expose properly.
The one downside to this mode is that no exposure compensation is possible. As I routinely find myself using between 2/3rds and a full stop of compensation, this means the manual mode doesn't generally expose how I want with Auto ISO enabled so I've left that alone for now.
Just thought I'd share my observations and wondered if anyone else is using it or has experimented with it?
